Samut Songkhram: Fishermen and vendors were busy loading the last supplies of raw marine animals from fishing boats at Mae Klong fish market, one of the largest seafood markets in the country, early yesterday before the business closes on Saturday due to a supply shortage.
The shortage is forcing raw seafood prices to increase at the market and elsewhere across the country. More than 3,000 middle-sized fishing trawlers in 22 coastal provinces have refused to go to sea since a new fishing law with high penalties for violators came into effect yesterday.
Under the law, the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) has introduced tough inspections of illegal fishing trawlers which failed to register in time, or fail to use fishing gear, particularly fishing nets, which matches their approved licences.
The move is among the government's efforts to respond to the "yellow card" warning issued by the European Union about the state of the Thai fishing industry.
Many fishing operators and vendors at Mae Klong seafood market in Samut Songkhram province cried foul at the crackdown, saying it will worsen local people's livelihoods.
Wisan Khunnatham, 48, a fishing boat operator and trader in the market, claims he has no choice but to temporarily end his business until supplies return to normal.
"I do not want to break the law. I do not want to have a problem with the police or anybody else, but what else can I do?" Mr Wisan asked. "I have been running this business for decades.
"I never thought this was going to happen to me. I still cannot figure it out how can I find the money to pay back my huge debts."
Panadda Pidngam, 32, a worker at a fish stall who has been in the fishing trade for more than 20 years, said she does not have any back-up plan since she thought the government would have mercy on the fishermen.
However, she understands it will take a long time to solve the problem of illegal fishing.
Meanwhile, president of a Fish Retailers' Club at Mae Klong fish market, Chatchai Samutsopakul, warned the price of fish and marine animals will increase sharply from this Saturday when stocks are expected to run out. "In fact, the price has already gone up after reports of the problem started a few weeks ago," he said.
The squid price, for example, has increased from 150 baht to 220-250 baht a kilogramme. "I believe seafood prices will go up further next week if the fishing industry isn't dead by then," Mr Chatchai warned.
Mr Chatchai said seafood menu prices at restaurants in Samut Sakhon could jump by 80%. Hotels and homestays around the famous floating market in Amphawa district will run out of seafood shortly, he said. The fishing business in 22 coastal provinces will be suspended until further notice.